The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-01-27
SNOW HALL
Interesting Incidents in the Life OF
the Man After VIII ON IL Was
Namcd-IIis Devotion to
His Life's Work.


prophetic. Since the incorporation of
the University of Kansas, and before
that event, there has been steady
growth of science in the state, which
has eliminated in Snow hail. "A building
set apart for the increase and diffusion
of the knowledge of natural science, as
long as its massive walls shall stand.
1t is named in honor of the man who
has been the inspiration and guiding
spirit of the whole enterprise, and some
incidents in his life may be of interest
TO the public.
Twenty years ago Professor Frank
II. Snow, recent graduate of Williams
college, came to Kansas, TO become n
member of the faculty of the state uni
ycrsity. His election to the chair of
natural science was unexpected. rs he
first taught mathematics in the univer-
sity, and expected in due time to be-
come professor of Greek, As profess
sor of the melilluous and most plastic
of all the ancient tongues, he would
undoubtedly have been proficient, rs
his college classics still remain fresh in
his warm and retcntive memory, and
his literary taste is so severe and chaste
as to make some of his scientific papers
read like a psalm. But nature design
ed him for another, and some think,
better field, and endowed him with
powers as a naturalist, that have won
for him recognition among the highest
living authorities of his profession.
Upon being elected to the chair of
natural history, Prof. Snow entered up
on his lifework with an enthus asm that
charmed his associates, and inspired bis
pupils. The true naturalist must pos
sess large and accurate powers of OBJ
servation, and q love for his chosen
profession that carries him over all OBJ
stacles, and renders him oblivious to
everything else, except the specimen
upon which he has set his heart Years
ago the writer was walking in the hall
of the new university building in com
pany with General Fraser and Profess
sor Snow, when the latter suddenly
darted forward up the stairs and cap
tured an insect IN its flight, that had
evidentally just dug its way out of the
pine of the new building. In few
moments he returned with such glow
on his countenance and such satisfied
air at having captured a rare but
familiar specimen, whose name was on
his lips, that we both felt, Surely here
IS Il genuine naturalist.
Some years ago an incident occurred
IN connection with his scientific excur-
sions in Colorado, that is quite charac-
teristic, showing his obliviousness to
self and everything else, save the OBJ
ject of his scientific pursuit. and fer
tility in overcoming danger when it
meets him face to face. He was de-
scending alone from one of the highest
peaks of the Rockies, when he thought
he could leave the path and reach the
foot of the mountain, by passing direct
ly down its side over an immense glacier
of snow and ice and thus save
time, and journey of several
miles After Il while his way down the
glacier grew sleeper and more difficult,
until he reached point where he could
not advance any further, and found, TO
his CONSERVATION. that lie could not re-
turn by the way he had come. There
he chung to the side of the immense
glacier, ready, should he miss his hold,
TO be plunged hundreds of feet into a
deep chasm. The situation flashed
over him, and he knew now IL was, in
deed, struggle for dear life With
precarious foothold, he chung TO the
glacier with one hand, while with his
pocket knife he cut a safer foothold with
the other. Resting little. he cut an.
other foothold lower down in the hard
snow, and so worked his way after Sc
we're struggle Of several hours admidst
constant danger TO the foot Of the
mountain in safety. But" continued
the professor, speaking of this incident
30 some of his friends, ii was richly
repaid for all my trouble and peril, for
when reached the foot of the noun
tain / captured new and very rare
species of butterfly. Multi tudes of
practical men cannot appreciate such
devotion TO pure science, but it is this
absorbing passion and pure grit that
enable the devotees of science to en-
large its boundaries year by year.
Once, while on scientific excursion
on the great plains with the lamented
Prof. Nudge, he nearly lost his life,
He had captured rattlesnake, and in
trying to Introduce il into jar filled
with alcohol, the snake managed to bite
him on the hand. The arm was imme-
diately bound tightly with a handker-
chief, and the wound enlarged with
pocket-knife and both professors took
turns in sucking il as clean as possible,
aud ejecting the poison from their
mouths. This. and heavy dose of
spirits. brought the professor through
In safety, although the poison remain